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Rodgers buoyed by ´outstanding´ Liverpool

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has hailed his side's performance despite only managing a 1-1 draw against a 10-man Newcastle United.

Newcastle were forced to see out the game a man down after captain Fabricio Coloccini was sent off for a lunging challenge on Luis Suarez but the home side failed to make the most of their numerical advantage.

The result means that Liverpool still have only one win at Anfield this season but Rodgers wasn't perturbed by the draw, describing the Reds as 'brilliant'.

"I thought we were outstanding, I have to say, our intensity and possession were relentless in the game," he said.

"We went to sleep just before half-time but for every other moment of the game I thought we were brilliant, and we deserved three points but we could just not put away any of the chances we had.

"I believe we are a team moving, moving forward and as you have seen from the performance today it was absolutely outstanding and once we improve the group over the course of the coming months hopefully that will kick us on again and we can turn these draws into wins."

Rodgers was also full of praise for striker Luis Suarez whose brilliant second-half goal got his side back into the game.

"He has been fantastic, I think most people in football know he is a real threat. Everyone knows he is quality and a fantastic guy and his work rate and intensity is phenomenal," Rodgers said.

Pardew questioned Taylor about the decision on the field after the final whistle but admitted he accepted the referee's decision.

"I thought he (Taylor) maybe got caught up in the emotion and I wanted to ask him before he'd had a chance to see replays," he said.

"He said he thought it was serious foul play. The morale of referees must be really low at the moment, because of constant criticism and the issues around them. We accept his decision and I thought he had a good day.

"I don't think there was any intent but we accept it."

Despite Liverpool controlling most of the game Newcastle only really looked troubled when Suarez was in possession and Pardew was disappointed his side didn't get more out of the match.

"I felt we lacked concentration at 1-0. We were looking comfortable and I fancied we might have got a second," he said.

"The goal changed the proceedings of the second half. Suarez is a great player and kept causing us problems. If we could have wrapped him up, we could have won."